Duke Energy Florida has announced that residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity will see their monthly bills decrease by about $44 starting in March 2026. The reduction follows the company’s annual rate adjustment process and includes the elimination of the storm cost recovery charge.
According to Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy in Florida, “Duke Energy Florida understands that our customers face economic challenges, which often force them to make tough choices about which bills they can afford to pay. That is why keeping costs low remains a priority for us, and we will continue connecting them with assistance programs and tools that help them save.”
The changes are part of an adjustment that accounts for annual fuel costs, capacity, energy conservation measures, storm protection plans, and environmental compliance expenses. Duke Energy Florida does not profit from increases in fuel costs and works to shield customers from price fluctuations under a three-year agreement (2025-2027) reached with customer advocacy groups in 2024.
Planned investments aim to strengthen grid reliability and expand solar power, leading to fewer outages, faster restoration after storms, and lower fuel costs. Approval from the Florida Public Service Commission is expected later this year.
For January and February 2026, typical residential bills for 1,000 kWh are projected to rise by approximately $7.54 compared to December 2025. However, starting in March 2026 these bills should drop by roughly $44.16 compared with February levels. Commercial and industrial customers may initially see bill increases between 4.3% and 8.2% over December but can expect reductions ranging from 9.6% to 15.8% beginning in March; specific impacts will vary depending on individual circumstances.
The primary reason for the significant decrease is the removal of charges related to storm cost recovery associated with Duke Energy Florida’s response efforts following hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.
Electric rates may still fluctuate during the year based on changing fuel prices or storm-related expenses.
Duke Energy Florida continues offering support through flexible payment plans as well as programs designed to help manage energy use:
– Free Home Energy Check assessments provide recommendations for improving household efficiency.
– Rebates are available for home efficiency upgrades after completing an energy assessment.
– Weatherization assistance installs efficiency improvements at no cost for qualifying low-income households.
– The EnergyWise Home program gives annual bill credits for reducing consumption during high-demand periods.
– Time-of-use rates offer lower prices for shifting energy use outside peak hours.
– Budget billing allows predictable monthly payments regardless of usage changes or weather conditions.
– The Share the Light Fund helps eligible customers pay electricity bills or connection fees through participating agencies.
More details about these resources can be found at duke-energy.com/HereToHelp and duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.
Duke Energy Florida serves two million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across a service area covering 13,000 square miles in Florida with a total generating capacity of 12,300 megawatts.
Parent company Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina; it supplies electricity to about 8.4 million customers across six states—North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky—and has a total owned capacity of nearly 54,800 megawatts nationwide. Its natural gas utilities serve around 1.7 million customers in five states including Tennessee.
The company continues investing in grid improvements as well as cleaner generation sources such as natural gas plants, nuclear facilities renewables, and battery storage systems while prioritizing reliability during its transition toward smarter energy solutions.
Contact: Aly Raschid
24 hours: 800.559.3853
X: @DE_AlyRaschid
